A 1999 desk study assesses the environmental risks of 93 industrial or
other non-agricultural pesticides. The risks for aquatic ecosystems are
emphasised, and various data on use pattern, dosages, emissions,
physicochemistry, environmental fate and ecotoxicity are listed. The
biocides have not been included in any of the environmental policy
spearheads for biocides in the Netherlands, primarily due to lack of
data. This lack is partially confirmed by the present study: e.g.
experimental data on the effects to purification processes in sewage
treatment plants are available for only four substances. This study also
shows that 11 biocides can have an adverse impact on aquatic organisms
(e.g. 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide as a slimicide in paper
industries) and that 11 biocides probably have no adverse impact on
aquatic organisms (e.g. zinc oxide as antifouling). A group of 17
biocides cannot be characterised for the environmental impact - although
emission to surface water is indicated -, because there are no models, no
ecotoxicological data or no data on the actual yearly industrial or
domestic use. Some of these biocides are very toxic as seen in acute
toxicity tests in the laboratory (e.g. disodium cyanodithioimido
carbonate). As the environmental risk assessments in this study reflect
realistic worst-case conditions, a follow-up study will be aimed at
adequate risk assessments under more general conditions. In this way,
the assessments for the potentially hazardous 11 biocides will be
specified by a more precise exposure assessment and additional
ecotoxicity data, if available. More precise data on the actual use of
biocides by industries are also required.

A 1999 desk study assesses the environmental risks of 93 industrial or
other non-agricultural pesticides. The risks for aquatic ecosystems are
emphasised, and various data on use pattern, dosages, emissions,
physicochemistry, environmental fate and ecotoxicity are listed. The
biocides have not been included in any of the environmental policy
spearheads for biocides in the Netherlands, primarily due to lack of
data. This lack is partially confirmed by the present study: e.g.
experimental data on the effects to purification processes in sewage
treatment plants are available for only four substances. This study also
shows that 11 biocides can have an adverse impact on aquatic organisms
(e.g. 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide as a slimicide in paper
industries) and that 11 biocides probably have no adverse impact on
aquatic organisms (e.g. zinc oxide as antifouling). A group of 17
biocides cannot be characterised for the environmental impact - although
emission to surface water is indicated -, because there are no models, no
ecotoxicological data or no data on the actual yearly industrial or
domestic use. Some of these biocides are very toxic as seen in acute
toxicity tests in the laboratory (e.g. disodium cyanodithioimido
carbonate). As the environmental risk assessments in this study reflect
realistic worst-case conditions, a follow-up study will be aimed at
adequate risk assessments under more general conditions. In this way,
the assessments for the potentially hazardous 11 biocides will be
specified by a more precise exposure assessment and additional
ecotoxicity data, if available. More precise data on the actual use of
biocides by industries are also required.